Jennifer Farley, director of the Stagville State Historic Site, a plantation that once spanned about 47.5 square miles across parts of Durham, Orange, Wake and Granville counties, restarted the . triangleland.org Text and photograph courtesy of Historic Stagville State Historic Site. Thomas Bennehan inherited Stagville and lived there until 1847. Durham is home to Stagville, one of the largest pre-Civil War plantations - nearly 30,000 acres and 900 slaves were held by the Bennehan-Cameron families by 1860. Duncan Cameron and his son Paul Cameron owned thousands of acres of land in North Carolina, and Paul also purchased plantations in Alabama and Mississippi. Size: 54.0 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 39300 items) Abstract: Bennehan Cameron, a white plantation owner, railroad executive, industrialist, and promoter of good roads, of Fairntosh and Stagville plantations, Durham County, N.C., and Raleigh, N.C. Historic Stagville was once part of a plantation complex that held over 900 enslaved people, the largest enslaved population in North Carolina. Aside from owning the Cameron plantation, which stood on around 10 acres of land. The historic site occupies a small portion of that land. Today, it is a place where visitors can connect to and reckon with a painful history of racial oppression that still shapes our present. Prior to the Civil War, Duncan Cameron owned one of the largest holdings of enslaved men and women in the area. The Bennehan home started out as a two- room house in the vernacular Georgian style. . In 1860 more than nine hundred Jody Mace Stagville State Historic Site, 5828 Old Oxford Highway in Durham, contains the remnants of one of the largest plantations of the pre-Civil War South. Explore Stagville and learn about holiday traditions for all families at one of the largest plantations in North Carolina. Beside Stagville Plantation: Duncan Cameron (1777-1853) National Register of Historic Places Application. The story of Stagville begins with Richard Bennehan, his wife and two children. Visit the Historic Stagville State Historic Site online to learn more about upcoming events, education, and history. Now a state historic site, Stagville was once one of North Carolina's largest plantations. Correspondence, diaries, financial papers, farm account books, breeding records, family history materials, and other items relating to . "Historic Stagville" was once the largest plantation in the state of North Carolina. "Historic Stagville" was once the largest plantation in the state of North Carolina. SOURCES. Residence. Khadija McNair is a. DURHAM, N.C. Historic Stagville in Durham is one of the largest plantations in North Carolina. Stagville Plantation: A place that helped define NC historySubscribe to WXII on YouTube now for more: http://bit.ly/1mVq5umGet more Winston-Salem news: http:. MRS 2. See more - Stagville. The ambitious Virginia-born merchant Richard Bennehan established a store by the road and the first of several plantations in the 1770s. The plantations belonged to the Bennehan-Cameron family, whose combined holdings totaled approximately 900 enslaved people and almost 30,000 acres of land by 1860. The Horton family farm grew to include 410 . Stagville is dedicated to teaching about the lives and work of enslaved people on the plantation. In 1860 more than nine hundred enslaved people lived on its thirty thousand acres. Stagville is dedicated to teaching about the . Historic Stagville is a state historic site that includes the remnants of the one of the largest plantations in North Carolina. By 1860, this lands, owned by the Bennehan and Cameron families, spread out over 30,000 acres (47 sq. Richard Bennehan, a Virginian merchant, established Stagville plantation. Relevance. None of the "these were the good ol' days of the south' weirdness that I was expecting. Fairntosh Farm. Stagville Plantation is located in Durham County, North Carolina. miles) and was home to over 900 enslaved people. The Bennehan-Cameron family Historic Stagville is a state historic site that includes the remnants of the one of the largest plantations in North Carolina. Their unmarried son Thomas also lived there until his death in 1847. Excavator (s): Jennifer Garlid and Tom Funk. Most of them worked in the fields growing . Phasing and mean ceramic dates can be found on the Chronology page. The remains of Historic Stagville consist of 71 acres in three tracts. At one point, the family owned more than 900 slaves. About 900 men, women and children were . The site comprises the remnants of one of the largest plantations of the pre-Civil War South. A plantation of this. Stagville continues to expand the interpretation of the history of slavery, with archaeology, oral histories, and archival research. The enslaving family's house is therefore the most accessible section . These include two-story enslaved family dwellings, a . The Bennehan-Cameron family owned approximately 30,000 acres of land, and claimed ownership over about 900 people who were enslaved on this property. The plantation belonged to the Bennehan-Cameron family, whose combined holdings totaled approximately 900 enslaved people and almost 30,000 acres of land by 1860. Stagville by Kenneth McFarland, 2006 Stagville, an eastern Orange County (now Durham County) plantation of several thousand acres, initially belonged to Virginia-born merchant Richard Bennehan (1743-1825). Navigate North America Using Map. , Farm. The Bennehan-Cameron family owned approximately 30,000 acres of land, and claimed ownership over about 900 people who were enslaved on this property. With buildings constructed from the late 18th century to the mid-19th century, Stagville was part of one of the largest plantation complexes in the American South. Stagville Plantation dates back to the 1700s, as a wheat, corn, rye and textile farm owned by the Bennehan and Cameron families who profited from this free Black labor. Stagville was . Stagville Established in 1787 by the Bennehan and Cameron families, Stagville was the largest plantation in North Carolina. After Duncan Cameron married Rebecca Benneham in 1803, the couple lived at Rebecca's homeplace, Stagville for several years before beginning building their own house in 1810. Historic Stagville was once owned by the Bennehan-Cameron family. "Stagville is a plantation site that's focused on telling stories about slavery, enslaved people, and the history of white supremacy in an honest and ethical way," said Cecelski. Occupation Dates: Early 19th through early 20th century. In 1860 more than nine hundred enslaved people lived on its thirty thousand acres. Among them they owned about 350 people (the legacy of this plantation and its black and white descendants was the subject of another excellent . "Cameron Avenue runs through campus and is named for Paul Cameron, who was . Horton Grove was an area of houses for enslaved African-Americans at the 30000 acre Bennehan-Cameron plantation complex, which included Stagville Plantation in the northeastern part of Durham County, North Carolina. Jennette Thompson was one of the visitors in search of answers about her family tree at Stagville's Family Day. Congressman . There are few original houses left on the property, which is one of the largest plantation complexes in the South. A plantation site featuring original slave quarters debuts a new interpretation to connect 1850 to the present day community. Aug 26, 2022 5. The Sloop Point plantation in Pender County, built in 1729, is the oldest surviving plantation house and the second oldest house surviving in North Carolina, after the Lane House (built in 1718-1719 and not part of a plantation). Stagville provides a window into an important chapter in North Carolina history. Our tour guide was late 20s/early 30s social studies teacher who volunteered there and he was excellent. At over 30,000 acres of land, it was one of the largest plantations in. While self-guided tours are allowed, I would recommend a guided tour. With buildings constructed from the late 18th century to the mid-19th century, Stagville was part of one of the largest plantation complexes in the American South. Stagville, a plantation of several thousand acres, lay at the center of this enormous estate. The entire complex was owned by the Bennehan, Mantack and Cameron families; it comprised roughly 30,000 acres (120 km 2) and was home to almost 900 enslaved African Americans in 1860. The Stagville Historic Site protects some of the land from the plantation, including the original slave quarters, a barn, and a Bennehan family house. Plantation: Date: Location: Original Owner: Source: Hoodoo (spirituality) The Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization which raises funds to support Historic Stagville State Historic Site's mission and programs. over the United States reunited at Stagville for a family reunion. On land he from Judith Stagg he and his wife, Mary Amis, controlled their estate from the vernacular Georgian-style house (Bennehan House, 1787) still standing at Stagville. The Cameron family of Orange County was one of antebellum North Carolina's wealthiest families. The Family Tree project at Historic Stagville, located in Durham County, NC, may be a valuable resource for family genealogists tracing their African American roots. Primary Source: Cameron Family Plantation Records. We visited the Stagville Plantation and loved it. Site 8. From 1771 to 1865, the Bennehan-Cameron family held more than 900 Black people in bondage on 30,000 acres of land, stealing their work and selling off their relatives for profit. Their combined holdings totalled around 30,000 acres of land by the time 1860 hit, and they owned around 900 slaves. Bennehan-Cameron land holdings would eventually grow to ~30,000 acres. The Bennehan and Cameron families owned nearly 30,000 acres of land and enslaved more. Nine-hundred enslaved persons once worked on 30,000 acres at Stagville plantation, owned by the Bennehan-Cameron families. The site of Fairntosh was originally part of the Stagville Plantation, owned by the Bennehan family. Horton Grove, named after the family of yeoman farmers who had once owned the site, was one of several centers on the 4,000-acre Stagville Plantation, itself was part of the extensive Bennehan-Cameron lands. It's only $2 for adults and $1 for children. Established in 1787 by the Bennehan and Cameron families Stagville was the largest plantation in North Carolina. . The plantation holdings of the Bennehan-Cameron families were among the largest in pre-Civil War North Carolina, and among the largest of the entire South. Tour the 18th century [] Our goal is to provide a balanced interpretation through tours and special events that tell the story of free . At one point, nearly 1,000 people were forced to labor there in the mid-1800s. Horton Grove. today as part of the preserved plantation site. In 1860 Stagville was the largest plantation in North Carolina, encompassing 30,000 acres and worked by nearly 1,000 enslaved people. The land of the Horton Grove Nature Preserve used to be part of one of the largest plantations in North Carolina, owned by the Bennehan and Cameron families. Despite this attraction being listed in Raleigh, it is actually north of Durham. The Bennehan-Cameron family owned approximately 30,000 acres of land, and claimed ownership over about 900 people who were enslaved" at the plantation. Visit the house of the Bennehan-Cameron slaveholders, the 1851 house of an enslaved family, and the house of a freed family after Emancipation. Stagville was self-sustaining, and many slaves were trained as . The family purchased the property in 1787 and ran a store. Today, the site is around 71 acres, in three tracts. That changed on April 11, 1865. Stagville protects a fraction of the land from that plantation, including original housing for enslaved people (1851), a massive barn (1860), and a Bennehan family house (1787-1799). Elizabeth Hemings Site. Today, this plantation is "You can still see the Cameron nameprobably the most prominent place is in Chapel Hill," Cecelski says. Time and again the idea persists that the enslaved people's homes were weak and shoddily constructed, implied in the sort of backhanded compliment that historian Jean Bradley Anderson pays the Horton Grove homes at Stagville Plantation in North Carolina wherein Anderson says that they were "unusually well-constructed.". Stewart-Watkins. Today, the focal point of the site is four original two-story slave dwellings. A straight-forward histrical tour with interesting tidbits interspersed. The state historic site has shifted its focus over the last 10 years from depicting the life of the Bennehan-Cameron. By 1860, the family owned almost 30,000 acres and nearly 900 slaves. Stagville was part of an extensive plantation complex owned by the Bennehan and Cameron families from the end of the 18th century through the middle of the 20th century. But the Cameron family that owned the Stagville plantation - that name persists, even as Confederate statues have fallen in Durham and on the UNC Campus. Stagville Plantation: Nice but odd - See 12 traveler reviews, 5 candid photos, and great deals for Bahama, NC, at Tripadvisor. By the time of the Civil War, Paul . There are a number of original structures still standing. Established in 1787 by the Bennehan and Cameron families, Stagville was the largest plantation in North Carolina. The structure was built in about 1787, with a two-story addition completed in 1799. 8 related topics. You can help decorate these houses for the coming Christmas season! The grounds are beautiful and have nice walking trails, but the guided tour was the best. Stagville Historic Site is located approximately 10 miles north of downtown Durham. The Bennehan-Cameron family enslaved over 900 people across 30,000 acres of land in Piedmont North Carolina. This is one of their stories The plantation of the Benehan-Cameron family was one of the largest in North Carolina, and probably one of the largest in the South. Known as Stagville, the Bennehan-Cameron family's plantation would become one of the largest in the state, growing to nearly 30,000 acres and enslaving over 900 people. Site 7. At its nexus, the plantation controlled 30,000+ acres of land and enslaved 900+ on the property and at nearby plantation Fairntosh. Stagville Plantation (Durham North Carolina) tour guide explains the fingerprints of enslaved children found impressed on the bricks on a plantation dwelling. Part of the 30,000-acre property that was owned by the Bennehan-Cameron family is preserved by Stagville, including the original slave quarters at Horton Grove. The entire complex was owned by the Bennehan, Mantack and Cameron families; it comprised roughly 30,000 acres (120 . By 1887 he had moved to Fairntosh. "Stagville is dedicated to teaching . The Bennehan-Cameron family owned approximately 30,000 acres of land, and enslaved about 900 people on this property. The Bennehan House at the Stagville Plantation. . "Stagville is a plantation site that's focused on telling stories about . Building t. East Kitchen Yard. Thomas Bennehan never married, however, and upon his death in 1847 Stagville passed to the Cameron family. "I heard the shouts all over the plantations. 14 reviews of Stagville Historic "I took a friend from out of town here on a tour and it was surprisingly good. Bennehan came to North Carolina in 1768 to manage a store on Little River owned by Scottish merchant William Johnston. Stagville, Durham, North Carolina. . Stagville played a major role in this. This exhibit centers the experiences of enslaved men and women on the largest antebellum plantation in the state. The Freedom Struggle: 1865 at Stagville In 1865, over 900 men, women, and children were enslaved on the Cameron family plantations, known as Stagville, near Durham, North Carolina. The plantation had 30,000 acres of land and had over 900 enslaved people on the property. These finds are an important step in Historic Stagville's ultimate vision. The Plantation Letters. The almost 30,000 acres were tended by some 900 slaves, most of whom lived in family groups as the plantation owner families tended not to sell the laborers they "owned". Welcome to the Historic Stagville Foundation! Experience the old South visiting historic Stagville Plantation, the Duke Homestead, and Bennett Place during the Durham Day Tour on Tuesday, 9 May 2017.